Anyone like the Xterra 305?

[Mike Hillis]

I've been interested in one ever since I first saw the release material. Haven't seen much information about them though. Did a bunch of searching on the net but all I can find is the normal sales information. Can someone give me some feedback on them?

I'll have one in my hands early next week so I can see for myself but I wouldn't mind reading a few posts on one while I was waiting

HH

Mike

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

G'day Mike.
There have been a few 305 users come on board on this forum, but have gone a bit quiet. I had the X-Terra 30 for 3.5 years and really enjoyed it. Having the ground balance, multi tones and high frequency coil available would make the 305 a better machine. Had I not wanted to try my hand at nugget hunting, then I would be pretty happy swinging the 305. Just because it's not the top of the range, doesn't justify it being snobbed as much as it is. Folks seem to seriously under estimate it's effectiveness. I found that I was just as happy swinging the 30, as I am swinging my Explorer! The 12 notch system is quite adequate in the real world as compared with other machines with higher number resolution. Yeah, the 70 has 28 notches, and it can be a bit better, but not by much! Certainly not by the price difference.
You'll enjoy the 305. To date, it has been the easiest to learn detector that I've swung, The simplicity of it really puts the fun factor right up there.
Good luck with it.
Mick Evans.

 

[jls]

I recently bought one but haven't had much time to use it. I work 7 days a week 65 to 75 hrs. I have had it out a couple times and it seems to be a pretty good detector. It doesn't read the targets quite as accurate as my Whites XLT did because it doesn't have the number separation like the XLT does. I did compare it to my brothers XLT as far as depth goes. I buried a quarter 8 inches deep. My 305 would hit on it everytime but the target ID would go from good to bad. My brothers XLT would barely pick it up with no read out on his ID. All in all I think this is an excellent detector and especially for the price. I hope to get more time to take it out before winter hits. If I do I will post more info. Jeff

 

[khouse]

I think of numbers as notches or blocks. So if your looking to dig a nickel on the 305 it's #12 So on you other machine it's #20 but you probably going to find nickels from 16 to 24. Because if your only going to dig #20 on the XLT you'll miss some nickels. So your really digging a set of numbers or window of numbers. So on the 305 your window is already set and on the XLT your digging a set of numbers. I think 12 notches is plenty. I wished the XT70 had a way to choose how many notches you could have light up. Because I would set it to 12. The more numbers and notches you have the less likely you'll dig a jumpy target. With only 12 notches your TID is more solid. This makes you dig more targets. Just my thoughts. No matter what you use it's just nice to get some dirt on your hands!

 

[TURNMASTER]

I have thought about getting one because I have coils for it. That would in my Opinion give me a real good starter for my kids or any one who wanted to go with me.

Just Thinking
Jeff

 

[khouse]

Not just for kids. I mean the old 30 didn't have any more features than an Ace 250. So for the extra cost it really wasn't an upgrade. But the 305 now has 2 freq, GB and much more features it's a pro machine. Really what more does a hunter need? Plus the price is right.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Well said Kenny. That's one of the reasons that I think that the 12 notch system works so well. Bad targets still jump around and you get more pleasant surprises (rings eta) with the 12 notches. even pull tabs tend to give themselves up. They can often fool you, but the 305 has enough notches. I particularly like the mutli tones that the 30 doesn't have.
Mick Evans.

 

[khouse]

Mick,
I think some so called advanced machines give you more info to NOT to dig. Digging is where it's at!

 

[7centsworth]

well said khouse

 

[Mike Hillis]

I'll be picking mine up from the post office this afternoon.
HH
Mike

 

[khouse]

Nothing like that new detector smell!

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

You hit the nail right on the head. I looked at the 3V and came to that conclusion. It would probably be the best detector on the market though if you are a dedicated ring hunter though, as it would separate pull tabs from gold rings fairly well, but simple pleasant and cheap detectors like the 305 will keep me happy due to it's fun factor. You just can't beat simplicity sometimes and like you are saying you are choosing as to whether to dig up a target or not, not your detector.
Mick Evans.

 

[Trackerman]

Ive been out of the Xterra forum for a while. i have been using a few different machines But just starten using my 305 again. And did some test with the stock 7.5klhz coil and the 18.75klhz coil. I noticed the 18.75klhz hit nickels much deeper than the 7.5klhz. It also hit dimes and quarters fairly well with the 18.75klhz. So ive decided to keep it on. I was hitting nickel signals at about 6 to 7 inches in a plug i dug. I noticed on the 305 when you get a signal deep the id reeds 44s on nickels and rings and quarters. All and all the xterra 305 is a pretty good machine.